Myofascial acupuncture versus routine acupuncture for mechanical neck pain: a protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Yang Zhang,
Yang Yang,
Chang Xu,
Na Li,
Xing-Hua Qiu,
Xing-Yue Yang,
Yu-Yu Wang,
Su-Ling Tian,
Yan-Bin Yan,
An-Ping Xu,
Fei Fu,
Feng-Yun Wen,
Yu-Qin Zhang,
Zhi-Wen Yang,
Qian-Hui Sun,
Xiao-Ling Wu,
Xing-Ye Dai,
Kai Cheng
Affiliations
Yang Zhang
6 Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Yang Yang
Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
Chang Xu
Proof of Concept Centre, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Third Affiliated Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
Na Li
Department of Science and Education, Guiyang Stomatological Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
Xing-Hua Qiu
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Xing-Yue Yang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Yu-Yu Wang
Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Sunsimiao Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Tongchuan, Shanxi, China
Su-Ling Tian
Chengs TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion Hospital, Beijing, China
Yan-Bin Yan
Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Sunsimiao Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Tongchuan, Shanxi, China
An-Ping Xu
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Fei Fu
Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Sunsimiao Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Tongchuan, Shanxi, China
Feng-Yun Wen
Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Langfang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Langfang, Hebei, China
Yu-Qin Zhang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Zhi-Wen Yang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Qian-Hui Sun
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Xiao-Ling Wu
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Xing-Ye Dai
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Kai Cheng
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Introduction Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is defined as pain in the area of the neck and/or neck-shoulder provoked by body mechanics and which adversely affects physical, psychological and social function. The treatments for MNP are limited. Previous studies and clinical experience have indicated that myofascial acupuncture might be a better treatment option for MNP, but the efficacy is controversial. Therefore, our aim is to compare the efficacy of myofascial acupuncture and routine acupuncture for MNP.Methods and analysis The study is a multicentre, prospective randomised clinical trial. Patients will be recruited from four tertiary hospitals in China. A total of 438 participants with MNP will be randomly assigned into two groups, namely the ‘Sancai-Tianbu’ myofascial acupuncture group and the routine acupuncture group, at a ratio of 1:1. Each group will receive the acupuncture treatment twice a week for 21 days, totalling six sessions. The primary outcome will be the Visual Analogue Scale score. The secondary outcomes will be the Neck Disability Index, the cervical range of motion and the MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The assessments will be performed at baseline (immediately after allocation), pretreatment (5 min before every treatment), post-treatment (within 10 min after every treatment), postcourse (within 1 day after the course), and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the course. All patients will be included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Repeated-measure analysis of covariance will be used to determine the effects of the intervention on the outcome measures.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained from China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, with permission number 2022-0204-01. Written informed consent will be obtained from the enrolled patients. Trial results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200061453.
